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The Libraries are once again offering our Crunch Time Caféto help you refuel and relax as you prep for final exams. Our offerings are a bit different this year, as we prepare Paley for the move to Charles Library, so read on to see where you can find us.

Be on the lookout Tuesday, April 30 around late morning as we travel through Paley Library handing out snacks from our awesome library cart. High fives are most appreciated.

You can also stop by our table on the First Floor of Paley from 2:00-4:00 pm on Wednesday, May 1 and 9:00–11:00 am on Monday, May 6 for snacks and to share your favorite memories of Paley in our video booth.

And don’t worry—we didn’t forget the therapy dogs! We’re partnering this year with the Wellness Resource Center to bring Destress with Dogs to the Student Center 217A on Thursday, May 2 from 11:30 am–2:30 pm.

Last week, the Libraries unveiled our very first Short Édition short story dispenser in the Student Center. With just the push of a button, the dispenser prints a free short story or poem just for you.

Short Édition is a French publishing house of short literature: poetry, short stories, and flash fiction. In addition to their online platform, they publish fiction around the world via their Short Story Dispensers for the public to enjoy a serendipitous literary experience.

Our dispenser features a “Local Fiction” button, which prints out a story written by a member of Temple community or the Philadelphia writing community. The “International Fiction” button dispenses stories from around the world.

Laura Bates reads her story, photo by Brae Howard

In conjunction with our dispenser launch, we also held our first creative writing contest. The theme of the contest was “transformation,” and the winners (listed below) joined us at the launch party to read their winning submissions.

Celebrate National Library Week with us! Sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April, National Library Week is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians in transforming lives and strengthening communities.

At Paley, we’ll be tabling outside (if weather permits!) and there will be snacks, swag, and photo booth opportunities. Stop by and talk to us about the Libraries!

Did you know that, according to a Wikimedia Foundation 2011 study, less than 10% of the editors on Wikipedia are women? When women aren’t represented in the writing and editing of the stories and records of people, the stories get mistold. We lose out on the real history.

Join us next Tuesday, March 19 from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm for the sixth annual (and Temple University Libraries’ fourth!) Art+Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon, a global project improving content on cis and trans women, the arts, and feminism on Wikipedia.

We will provide tutorials for the beginner Wikipedian, reference materials, and refreshments, and invite people of all gender identities and expressions to participate, particularly transgender and cisgender women. We hope you’ll also join us in the evening for a panel discussion on the intersection of art, feminism, technology, and history.

We’re holding the event in the lobby of the Tyler School of Art and the schedule is outlined below:

Have a research project you worked on for a Temple course between spring 2018 and now? Why not turn all that hard work into a prestigious award? But don’t delay—you only have until next Monday, February 18 to apply to the Libraries’ Livingstone Undergraduate Research Awards.

These Awards honor the best in Temple undergraduate research, and categories include the humanities, social sciences, STEM disciplines, creative works and media production, diversity and social justice, and general education courses. Plus, there are cash prizes of up to $1,000 for winners in each category.

We are accepting online applications for the Awards through February 18th, 2019 at 11:59 pm. Send us your best work!

Join us next Wednesday, February 13 at 6:00 pm for an evening of poetry with some of Philadelphia’s most talented young voices. Members from Temple’s own Babel Poetry Collective will read original work and moderate a conversation with the current and former Philadelphia Youth Poet Laureates, Wes Matthews and Husnaa Hashim. Wes and Husnaa will also take the stage to share their poetry with us.

Wes Matthews is a Detroit-born, Philadelphia-based poet and essayist and is currently serving as the 2018-19 Philadelphia Youth Poet Laureate. He is a 2x Brave New Voices competitor, a 2016 TEDx speaker, and winner of the 2018 Philly Slam League All-Star Poetry Slam. His work has been published in the Detroit Free Press, Eunoia Review, Dreginald Magazine, and elsewhere.

Husnaa Hashim is the 2017-2018 Youth Poet Laureate of Philadelphia, and author of the poetry collection Honey Sequence. She is a first year student at the University of Pennsylvania. Husnaa has competed with the Philly Youth Poetry Movement, performed at various conferences and festivals, and received numerous Scholastic Art and Writing Awards including a National American Voices Medal awarded at Carnegie Hall. Husnaa’s work can be found in RookieMag, KidSpirit Online, the Kenyon Review Young Writers anthology, the Voices of the East Coast anthology, and APIARY 9, among others.

This program takes place in the Paley Library Lecture Hall (ground floor) at 1210 Polett Walk and is free and open to all.

Thanks to those of you who attended and participated in our Beyond the Pagepublic programming series this semester. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in these learning experiences, and we hope to see you again in the spring as continue to explore Access & Opportunity! In the meantime, enjoy this look back at moments from our fall lineup of lectures, workshops, performances, and more.

Participants create and post their art outside Paley Library. The Libraries partnered with Conrad Benner of streetsdept.com and Cindy M. Ngo of Eat Up the Borders to bring local muralists and street artists to Paley Library to discuss their work, art in the public space, access to the arts and art education, and more.

Photo courtesy Brae Howard

Jazz violinist, Boyer Artist-in-Resident, and Grammy winner Zach Brock performs at the Libraries as part of our Beyond the Notes concert series.

Photo courtesy Bruce Turner

Photo courtesy Bruce Turner

Sonia Sanchez, Philadelphia’s first Poet Laureate and a leader in the Black Arts Movement, reads a poem at a donor reception at the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection. The Blockson Collection received a historic donation from Goldin Auctions of memorabilia belonging to the late rapper Tupac Shakur. Read more about this important acquisition and see some of materials for yourself on Temple Now.

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Visit the Libraries’ Crunch Time Café to relax and refuel during study days and final exams. We’re partnering this year with the Wellness Resource Center, who will be on hand throughout the week to offer guided activities and resources. And don’t worry, we’re also bringing back the ever-popular therapy dogs to help you destress! Events will take place in the Paley Library Lecture Hall, 1210 Polett Walk, Ground Floor, unless otherwise noted.

Kickoff with Coffee and PastriesTuesday, December 11, 7:30–10:30 AMStart your first study day right with breakfast on us.

Gather Round the Campfire!Wednesday, December 12, 10:00 AM–1:00 PMOn your final study day, gather in the Paley Library Lecture Hall for a digital campfire, complete with snacks and space to spread out, study, and relax.

Traveling Crunch Time CaféThursday, December 13Keep an eye out for friendly library staff members roving the stacks with treats! Because we care about you and want to help you succeed!

Destress with DogsMonday, December 17, Noon–1:30 PMTuesday, December 18, 10:00–11:30 AMCap off your exams with some furry friends. Stop by to hang out with cuddly, sweet therapy dogs and feel your stress melt away.

According to her research, the gender pay gap starts with part-time work in the teen years and persists into adulthood.

Yasemin Besen-Cassino is a Professor of Sociology at Montclair State University. Her research focuses on work, gender, and youth and has appeared in many sociology journals such as Contexts, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, Theory & Society, NWSAJ, and Education & Society. In addition, her work has been featured in many popular venues such as the Washington Post, the Guardian, The Atlantic, CNN, MTV, Fortune, and Ms. Magazine, and many others.

Every year, books in schools and libraries are challenged, meaning a person or group has requested their removal or restriction. The reasons for these challenges range from objections to explicit content, offensive language, age-inappropriate material, and more. Yet, most challenges are unsuccessful due to the hard work of librarians, teachers, students, and community members who support and promote our freedom to openly access information and literature.

Check out our display on the first floor of Paley Library, across from the service desk. The featured books have all been challenged at some point in libraries and schools, along with many other frequently challenged books. Consider checking one out and support your freedom to seek and express ideas.

Join the Conversation for a Chance to Win Library Swag!

Tweet us your favorite passage or quote from a banned book with the hashtag #BannedBooksWeek for a chance to win one of of the Libraries’ new drawstring bags! We’ll be choosing a few lucky winners throughout the week.